Eraser cleaner



United tates Patent O ERASER CLEANER Francis J. Queirolo, Stoclrton,Calif.

Application August 10, 1954, Serial No. 448,938

2 Claims. (Cl. 15-310) This invention relates to improvernents indevices for Cleaning lackboard erasers, and more particularly to nnimproved device of this kind which combincs coinhing and friction actionwith vacuum or suction action upon erasers.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a more efficient andpractical time and labor-saving device of the Character indicated abovewhich can be attached to any tank type vacuum Cleaner, is readilyportahle along with the vacuum cleaner, and can, if desired, betemporarily or permanently installed on the cleaner's cart or upon anysuitable support, such as a table, so that erasers present in differentplaces in a building, as in ditferent classrooms of a school, can hecleaned thereon, instead of having to be undesirably colleeted andcarried to a Cleaning area and returned to the classrooms.

Another important object of the invention is the provision of a simpleand lightweight device of the Character indicated above which can beeasily fabricated in a serviceable and attractive form at relatively lowcost.

Other important objects and advantageous features of the invention willbe apparent from the following description and the accornpanyingdrawings, wherein, for purposes of illustration only, a specific form ofthe invention is set forth in detail.

ln the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view.

Figure 2 is a transverse Vertical section taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary `Vertical longitudinal section taken on theline 3-3 of Figure 1.

.Figure 4- is a fragmentary and contracted side elevation showing thedevice mounted on a support and connected to a vacuum cleaner hose, withan eraser in Cleaning position on the device.

Referring in detail to the drawings, wherein 'like numerals designatelike parts throughout the several views, the illustrated device,generally designated 7, comprises an elongated rectangular plate 8,preferably of cast aluminum, which is longer than and wider than anordinary blackboard eraser 9, but is preferably proportioned in lengthand width to the length and width of the eraser 9.

The plate 8 has a fiat plain top surface 10 which is surrounded by a lowwall 11 which rises from the side and end edges of the plate 8 and has adownwardly bevelled inner side 12.

Rising from the top surface 10 is a multiplicity of transverse teeth orridges 13 which are spaced parallel from each other and form the wall 11at the ends of the plate at distances substantially corresponding to thewidth of the ridges 13. The opposite ends 14 of the ridges 13 are spacedfrom the wall 11 along the longitudinal sides of the plate 8. The tops15 of the ridges 13 are spaced below the top 16 of the wall 11.

A circular suction hole 17 is formed through the plate 8 at its center,and diagonal mutually divergent longitudinal grooves 18 are formed inthe top surface 10 of the plate 8 and open at their inner ends, asindicated at 19, through the sidewall 20 of the hole 17. The outer ends21 of the grooves 18 terminate outwardly of the end ridges 13 and inspaced relation to the wall 11.

As shown in Figure 1, the grooves extend through the ridges 13 wherethey intersect the ridges, thereby pro- ICC viding suction communicationbetween the suction channels defined between adjacent ridges 13, and thesuction hole 17.

A vacuum cleaner hose adapter, generally designated 22 comprises anannular flange 23 and an integral nipple 24, having a tapered bore 25into which the rigid tube of vacuum cleaner hose 27 is adapted to befriction iitted.

Studs 28 traverse the adapter ange 23 and thread into the bottom of theplate At one end the plate has holes 29 in the Corners Within the wall11 for accommodating screws 30 for inounting the device temporarily orpermanently on a support Tal, as shown iu Figure 4.

The dimensions of the plate 8 are such that when an eraser 9 ispositioned on the ridges 13 within the wall 11 the eraser 9 will at alltimes and in all positions cover the suction hole 17. It is obvious thatwith the vacuum Cleaner 32 Operating, suction will be present in thegrooves 18 and in the spaces between the ridges 13 which will draw loosechall: from the underside of the eraser, into the vacuum Cleaner 32. Bymoving the eraser 9 back and forth in contact with the ridges 13 lodgedchalk dust and particles will be loosened from the eraser by the combingaction of the ridges and the pulling action of the suction, thesecombined actions serving to quickly and efliciently clean the eraser 9of chalk accumulations.

What is claimed is:

1. In a blackboard eraser cleauer, a substantially rectangular elongatedplate wider and longer than an eraser to be cleaned, said plate having atop surface and side edges and end edges, a plurality of parallel spacedcontinuous ridges extending across said top surface parallel to said endedges, said ridges terminating at their ends in spaced relation to theside edges of the plate, adjacent ones of said ridges defining suctionchannels therebetween, a plurality of relatively narrow continuoussuction grooves extending lengthwise of said top surface and through theridges at points spaced along the ridges, said suction grooves havingouter ends termiuating beyond ridges at the end edges of the plate andinner ends, and a central suction hole through said plate into which theinner ends of the suction grooves open.

2. In a blackboard eraser cleaner, a substantially rectangular elongatedplate wider and longer than an eraser to be cIeaned, said plate havinga. top surface and side edges and end edges, a plurality of parallelspaced continuous ridges extending across said top surface parallel tosaid end edges, said ridges terminating at their ends in spaced relationto the side edges of the plate, adjacent ones of said ridges definingsuction channels therebetween, a plurality of relatively narrowcontinuous suction grooves extending lengthwise of said top surface andthrough the ridges at points spaced along the ridges, said suctiongrooves having `outer ends terminating beyond ridges at the end edges ofthe plate and inner ends, and a central suction hole through said plateinto which the inner ends of the suction grooves open, sidewalls risiugfrom said plate along the side edges of the plate and endwalls risingfrom the plate along the end edges thereof, opposite ends of said ridgesbeing spaced from adjacent sidewalls and said endwalls being spaced fromadjacent ridges.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,416,201 Haynes May 16, 1922 1,79l,760 Kline Feb. 10, 1931 1,935,250Palmer Nov. 14, 1933 2,163,788 Hennefer June 27, 1939 2,554,238 BurriMay 22, 1951 2,655,147 Rohrer Oct. 13, 1953

